Fighting Back: Rep. Cedric Richmond “You deserve a Better Deal”

The weekly Fighting Back post is also an Open News Thread. Feel free to share other news stories in the comments.

Found on the Internets …

The Weekly Democratic Party Address was delivered by Congressman Cedric Richmond of Louisiana, Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Congressman Richmond:

“My fellow Democrats and I are painfully aware that America – the land of opportunity – has morphed into a country that has turned its back on too many of our families: our rural families, our blue collar families, our minority families, and especially those families working hard to escape poverty. […]

“My fellow Democrats and I are fighting non-stop to change the deal that America has with her citizens. Instead of the current raw deal, we want to deliver A Better Deal. A deal that means if you work hard and play by the rules, you and your family will have endless opportunities.

“This time of year, I know that too many families are sitting around the table experiencing great anxiety. Parents are wondering how to pay for school clothes, school supplies or tuition. How to pay for your child to go to that college that they busted their tail to get into, because you don’t want to let them down. Not to mention how to pay for childcare or care for an elderly parent. These are the real life issues facing us.

“Now, I’ll be as plain, straightforward and honest as possible. You deserve better.

(CSPAN link to Weekly Democratic Address: here)

(Link to Nancy Pelosi Newsroom here)

Transcript: Congressman Cedric Richmond Delivers Weekly Democratic Address

“Hi, this is Congressman Cedric Richmond. I proudly represent the 2nd Congressional District of Louisiana, and I’m honored to serve as Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus.

“My fellow Democrats and I are painfully aware that America – the land of opportunity – has morphed into a country that has turned its back on too many of our families: our rural families, our blue collar families, our minority families, and especially those families working hard to escape poverty.

“This is not the land of the free and the home of the brave, where opportunity and prosperity are available to all.

“I am a product of that America.

“My mother, Maple, was one of 15 children, and grew up in the poorest place in America: Lake Providence, Louisiana. Her mother was a housekeeper, and she didn’t know her father. But because of family, access to quality public education, a supportive government and, especially, affordable access to a college education, she made it.

“She then worked hard every day, and into the night, as a public school special education teacher. She did that with great enthusiasm, steadfast dedication and extreme pride because she knew she was adding to the lives of her students and earning enough to provide for her two boys.

“She lost her husband and my dad when I was 7 and my brother was 9. However, her wage as a public school teacher was a living wage, and where she fell short, family and government were there to help. She made sure college was an option for my brother and I, and we both earned degrees from Morehouse College.

“It’s important for me to tell my mother’s story because that story wouldn’t be the same today.

“That’s why my fellow Democrats and I are fighting non-stop to change the deal that America has with her citizens. Instead of the current raw deal, we want to deliver A Better Deal. A deal that means if you work hard and play by the rules, you and your family will have endless opportunities.

“This time of year, I know that too many families are sitting around the table experiencing great anxiety. Parents are wondering how to pay for school clothes, school supplies or tuition. How to pay for your child to go to that college that they busted their tail to get into, because you don’t want to let them down. Not to mention how to pay for childcare or care for an elderly parent. These are the real life issues facing us.

“Now, I’ll be as plain, straightforward and honest as possible. You deserve better.

“You deserve a quality public education system that invests in our schools, our teachers and our students. One that prepares our students for the future and teaches them the skills required for a 21st century economy. A system that guarantees that where a child is born, what they look like, what they believe or what their gender is won’t limit their possibilities. A system that ensures that they can be whatever they want to be.

“You deserve a health care system that delivers affordable health care to all. One that doesn’t discriminate because you have a pre-existing condition. One that doesn’t cap benefits. A system that doesn’t penalize rural America or punish a baby for coming into this world with a heart condition.

“You deserve real investment in our infrastructure. Investment in roads, bridges and levees, as well as broadband and schools. That investment will create millions of jobs and create economic gains for those left out of the recovery from the Great Recession. You deserve Congress to put ordinary American families first.

“You deserve a living wage, because a full-time job should allow you to provide for your family.

“You deserve a fair tax structure. One that doesn’t allow America’s richest people to pay a tax rate lower than their secretaries. A tax structure that will mandate that corporations pay their fair share, rather than bankrupt the country using loopholes and schemes.

“You deserve an America that values diversity, protects freedom of religion, promotes equality and provides security for vulnerable populations.

“Here’s what you don’t deserve: a society that tolerates bullying or promotes hate. You don’t deserve a country that puts the wealthy at an advantage at the expense of our regular families. You don’t deserve a President you can’t trust to tell the truth, and, finally, you don’t deserve to go to bed every night wondering if the President is going to lead us to war.

“The Democratic Members of Congress are determined to bring prosperity and opportunity to every nook and cranny of this country. I’m very proud and honored to be able to sit here today and reaffirm our desire to bring you A Better Deal because you deserve better, and I know it.”

Any bolding has been added.

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Congress is in recess so there is no weekly Thursday news conference.

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Next up: the Republican Tax Cut Plan

Pelosi Dear Colleague on House Democrats’ Intent to Fight for Working Families in Tax Reform

Dear Democratic Colleague,

I hope that this message finds you having an enjoyable time with your family and friends. I am writing in appreciation of the unity of House and Senate Democrats, the mobilization of the stakeholders, and especially, the stories of the families which made the ACA success possible. Working together, we not only won this battle, but also forged a bond that can continue to serve the American people well.

An important challenge looking ahead is tax reform. Although we hope to work in a bipartisan way, we cannot go forward with a Republican tax reform proposal which contains tax cuts for the rich. The consequences to the budget in terms of the deficit, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and other investments would be catastrophic. Therefore, we must insist on “Not One Penny” in tax cuts for top 1 percent.

Another challenge we face are the Republican initiatives to undermine the leverage of American workers by threatening collective bargaining, OSHA, NLRB and with a national right to work law. “A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future” insists that we win this fight.

As our protection of the ACA continues, we must pivot to improve and update the law, hopefully in a bipartisan way. The proposals put forth by Members have been constructive and welcome. It is important to note that one of priorities in “A Better Deal” is reducing the cost of prescription drugs.

At your town meetings, as the calls for single payer, Medicare for all, public option and other suggestions come forth, please assure your constituents that these options have always been open for discussion and will have further consideration after we return in September.

Right now, we must fight the fast-moving multi-million dollar campaign to give tax cuts to the rich. Trickle-down economics have never worked! During the break, we must convey the consequences to working families and we must lead in the fight against tax breaks for the rich. “Not One Penny” in tax cuts for the top 1 percent.

Because all of our aspirations for a better future are undermined by trickle-down economics, we must all highlight the tax fight in our town hall and other meetings during this work period.

We are all our grateful to our DPCC co-chairs Cheri Bustos, David Cicilline and Hakeem Jeffries for their leadership in continuing to hear your views and shaping our message of “A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future.”

Thank you for your leadership.

Pelosi Dear Colleague on Key Points on Republican Tax Reform Proposals

Dear Democratic Colleague,

Following up on my letter on Monday about the Republican tax proposals to provide massive tax breaks for the top 1 percent, I wanted to share with you four key points to use in discussing the dangers of their plans with your constituents:

– Republican plans would blow a huge hole in the national debt – at least $3 trillion over the next ten years.
– Contrary to Republican promises, the Bush tax cuts for the high end did not create jobs and only increased the deficit.
– Despite promises by the President, the Republican approach is a backdoor attempt to gut Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and the Affordable Care Act.
– Republican proposals, like President Trump’s proposal, trigger a massive opportunity cost as well: These tax cuts would mean that critical domestic investments such as infrastructure, education and job training aren’t made, among other top priorities.

If we are to create A Better Deal: Better Jobs, Better Wages, Better Future, we must have “Not One Penny” in tax cuts for the top 1 percent. I am proud of the work of our Ranking Member Richie Neal and our Ways and Means Democrats on this critical subject. I am attaching a helpful statement from Ranking Member Neal that will help you further address this issue.

I hope this information is helpful to you. Thank you for your leadership.

More details are at the link.

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